Swatches Manual

8/6/2019 Swatches Manual

1/40

Introduction

The swatches are for Illustrator , they include gradient and pattern swatches. The docu-

mentation gives details on the installation and use of the swatches in Adobe Illustrator

. The swatches are generally known as Illustrator pattern swatches, Illustrator gradients

swatches, Illustrator CS3 colors, etc, I will be using the term swatches throughout. Illus-

trator is registered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated

Andrew

Swatches manual


2/40

Installation of swatches (gradients or patterns)

Please place the GX*.AI files into the presets 'gradients' folder or in the 'patterns' or with the latest

version, swatches (the swatches folder might be below an additional folder of 'en_US' or 'en_GB'

depending on your set language

i.e c:\program files\adobe\adobe illustrator CS2\presets\patterns (PC)

HD:applications:adobe illustrator CS2:patterns (OS X)

You can always place them in a user folder as well (requiring no permissions) but then you will

always have to search for the files using the 'other library' option on the swatches palette

If you place them in the applications or program files folders using a basic account, the OS will ask

for permission and you will have to enter your admin and password. This is nothing to do with the

swatches, it is purely the permission system of the OS

New install location (alternative one for CS4)

Please place the patterns swatches in the : library : ApplicationSupport : Adobe : Adobe

Illustrator CS4 : en_US : swatches folder. Again, depends on the username (Andrew, Maggie, Steve or

whatever your current username is) and the en_US depends on the language so it could be en_GB

etc en_JP etc

Please place the Illustrator gradient swatches files in your user folder [user] \ appData \ roaming \

Adobe \ Adobe Illustrator CS4 settings \ en_US \ swatches changing the en_US to en_GB etc as

required and the [user] to your username. You will then see the gradient files appear in the preset

browser dropdown for the swatches panel.

For versions of Illustrator

PC

C:\program files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CS4\presets\en_US\swatches

C:\program files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CS3\presets\gradients (or patterns, if patterns)

C:\program files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CS2\presets\gradients (or patterns, if patterns)C:\program files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CS\presets\gradients (or patterns, if patterns)

C:\program files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator 10\presets\gradients (or patterns, if patterns or swatches)

MAC

HD:applications:Adobe Illustrator CS4:Presets:en_US:Swatches

HD:applications:Adobe Illustrator CS3:Presets:Gradients (or patterns, if patterns)

HD:applications:Adobe Illustrator CS2:Presets:Gradients (or patterns, if patterns)

HD:applications:Adobe Illustrator CS:Presets:Gradients (or patterns, if patterns)

HD:applications:Adobe Illustrator 10:Presets:Gradients (or patterns, if patterns or swatches)


3/40

Initial use of swatches

Access the swatches via the load libraries functionality of the swatches palette.

1) Open the zip file

2) Expand contents

3) Go to the swatches for Illustrator folder within expand folder files

4) Select the *.AI files

5) Copy

6) Go to the Adobe Illustrator presets folder and then paste the files into either gradients or

patterns (depending on the file set)

7) Open Illustrator

8) Go to to the window menu and select swatches to display the swatches palette

9) Go to top right of palette and display menu and select open swatch library option and then

select an item from menu list

10) Select swatch (this will place the item in the document swatch library)

11) Apply to path etc

fig. Swatches palette


4/40

Opening the actual swatches folder / editing source swatches

Depending on the swatches set, some of the swatches file display the swatches in the document

space / artpad. If there is nothing displayed, the swatches are only visible in the swatches

palette (display via the window command swatches).

If you wish to modify the swatches at source, modify them via the actual swatches file and then

re-save the file. Make a backup before editing the file as you may corrupt the file stopping any

further access to the file

Editing the swatches, change the swatch in the swatches palette (if you change the design

displayed in the document space, the swatch is not updated)

0) Backup Backup Backup the document before editing !!

1) Open document

2) Display swatch palette via windows command

3) Drag swatch from the swatches palette

4) Edit the swatch (retain the surrounding non fill non stroke bounding box)

5) Drag back into the swatches palette (this won't replace the existing but will create a newswatch, you may wish to delete the existing one via the delete / bin command)

6) Save document to Illustrator 10 format (or even earlier if you wish)


5/40

Applying swatches to a path

1) Windows menu

2) Swatches

3) Display swatches palette

4) Go to the right menu and select a swatches library (via other library command or list)

5) Select path

6) Go to opened swatch library

7) Select swatch (swatch is now added to the swatches palette for the document) and applied to

path

If the swatch is a gradient, modify the gradient further by using the gradient tool such as changing

the angle or length or type or aspect of the gradient.

If the swatch is a pattern, there is little you can do but you can re-scale etc the pattern

fig. Gradient applied to path


6/40

Scaling and rotating and shearing patterns

1) Select path containing swatch fill

2) Object > transform

3) Shear etc

4) Set the object to not checked, leave the pattern as checked

5) OK

Use the scale etc to re-scale a small or big pattern.

fig. Original pattern swatchfig. Pattern with 45 degree

shear

fig. Pattern with 45 degree

rotate fig. 20% scaling

fig. Pattern moved fig. Pattern reflected


7/40

Applying swatches to text (pattern)

1) Windows menu

2) Swatches



5) Select text


7) Select swatch (swatch is now added to the swatches palette for the document) and

applied to text

Re-scale the pattern etc

texttext

fig. Pattern applied to text

fig. Pattern applied to text and then re-scaled via object > transformation

scale (pattern is enabled, object is not)


8/40

Applying swatches to text

(gradients)

1) Windows menu

2) Swatches


4) Go to the right menu and select a swatches library

(via other library command or list)5) Select text

6) Object > expand


8) Select swatch (swatch is now added to the

swatches palette for the document)

Manipulate gradient via the gradient tool etc

fig. Expanded text with gradient fill

fig. Expanded text with gradient fill with

gradient applied across whole group


9/40

Applying swatches to text (gradients) via appearance palette

1) Windows menu

2) Swatches



5) Select text

6) Go to the appearance palette

7) Add a new fill to the text8) Go to opened swatch library

9) Select swatch (swatch is now added to the swatches palette for the document)

Manipulate gradient via the gradient tool etc. The advantage of this approach is that the gradient

and the text are still editable as text

texttext

fig. Single fill applied via

apperance palette

fig. Two fills applied via appearance palette +

change of angle and blending mode


10/40

Apply swatches to path's stroke

1) Select path

2) Set stroke width to greater than 0

3) Select swatch from swatch library or document's swatches palette - select pattern

fig. Original path

fig. Path with pattern applied

to stroke

fig. Path with pattern applied

to stroke and the pattern has

been rescaled to 20% viaobject > transformation

fig. Two pattern strokes applied via

the appearance palette


11/40

Appearance and multiple

swatch fills

1) Select a path

2) Go to the appearance palette

3) Go to the fill of the path

4) Select a gradient or pattern from the swatch

dropdown in the fill entry5) Go to the right of the appearance palette

and select menu

6) Add new fill or duplicate item / entry

7) Select first entry in the list

8) window > transparency

9) Change blending mode etc perhaps to differ-

ence

10) Change the gradient or pattern using gradi-

ent tool etc (one or both)

11) Repeat for additional fills as required

fig. Original path with

one fill

fig. Two fills via appearance

and blending multiply fig. Different angles and two fills


12/40

Serial Number

Please store the serial number for future reference, updates, replacements etc (if this is the

purchased edition of the swatches)

Support

If you have any questions about the Illustrator gradient or pattern swatches, please let meknow, please contact support at graphicxtras.com

Requirements

Adobe Illustrator 10 CS1 CS2 CS3 CS4. Mac OS X 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 ME, XP, 98, 2000, and

NT and Vista (and also Windows 7)

Minimum Requirements

At least 64MB of memory, though some operations might require a lot more.

Trademarks

Illustrator and Photoshop and InDesign are registered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorpo-

rated

Screenshots

Adobe product screen shot(s) reprinted with permission from Adobe Systems Incorporated.

Copyright

All the gradients / patterns are copyright Andrew Buckle 2004-2009, but they are royalty-

free... Documentation is (c) 2009 Andrew Buckle / Abneil Software Ltd

Company Address

Telephone UK 01622 688 375http://www.graphicxtras.com

[email protected]

Additional Items on the graphicxtras.com site

We have a number of sets of plugins for Illustrator 10 and CS4 CS3 CS2 CS1 (as well as 8/9,

and also for mac.. please contact us about that); and also brushes for Illustrator

8/910/CS/CS2/CS3/CS4 as well as plugins for Photoshop and other applications


13/40

Scripts

The set comes with bonus scripts for Illustrator CS2 and CS3 CS4. The scripts need to

be placed in the scripts folder of Illustrator. They do things such as create a thumbnail

gallery (basic) from the swatches in the current file; and other path options. They are

not a required feature of the pack and can be ignored if you wish


14/40

Combine swatches

The gradients can be combined by combining multi-

ple paths overlapping (and setting the blending

mode to difference etc or changing the opacity)

You can also use the appearance palette and multi-

ple fills

fig. A basic single swatch

fig. Two gradients - difference

but with same angle


but with one angle at 0 and

another at 90


but with same angle but different

lengths


but with 45 and 135 angles

fig. Two gradients - multiply mode

but with same angle


15/40

Expanding gradients to mesh

The path / gradient can be expanded (in most cases) to a mesh via the expand command

The mesh can be manipulated as a normal gradient mesh (or use the mesh plug-in volume 16

from the graphicxtras.com plugins)

1) Select path

2) Apply gradient swatch

3) Object > expand

4) Select gradient mesh option

5) Use the gradient mesh tools to further manipulate the design via edit contents

There is a gradient mesh manipulation plug-in available on the graphicxtras.com site

fig. Original gradient

fig. Mesh

fig. Editing the contents of mesh


16/40

Expand gradients to paths

Expand into x number of objects. Ungroup and

release clipping mask. The individual paths can

then be moved / scaled etc

1) Select path with gradient

2) Object > expand

3) Set steps

4) Expand

5) Double click path to isolate

6) Object > ungroup (drag apart parts)

fig Expanded gradient


fig. After isolating the path and

ungrouping, the parts can be pulled

apart


17/40

Rasterize gradient

The gradient swatch can be rasterized (via

the object menu) - or use an effect to keep

the path live.

Once rasterized, apply a blur etc or color

effect or stained glass effect

Or apply a live trace to the rasterized gradi-

ent


fig. Object > rasterized

fig. Sumi effect applied to

rasterized path

fig. Rasterized but then live

trace applied using a color setting


18/40

Distort paths with gradients

Gradient fill paths can be distorted, effects applied such as wave effects other

ripples

1) Select path with gradient swatch

2) Object > expand

3) Set steps etc

4) Apply effect on expanded path

fig. Original gradient swatch

fig. Expanded path with swatch

and zigzag applied

fig. Expanded path with swatch

and twist applied

fig. Expanded path and

roughen applied


19/40

Symbols and swatches

Drag a path / gradient into the symbol palette and create a symbol. The symbol can

then be used with the symbol spray tool, animations, layer effects, and more


fig. After being added to the symbols palette

and applied using the symbol sprayer tool.

Further modify via the symbol sprayer sizer,

scruncher etc tools


20/40

Gradient as a line

The gradient can be used as an underline or border in linear mode

fig. Linear gradient 0 angle

fig. Linear gradient 90 angle

fig. Linear gradient 90 angle - 3 lines

fig. Combining the same gradient but reversed in the centre

fig. Combining using two different gradients

fig. Linear gradient 0 angle - two different gradient lines


21/40

Gradient as a frame

The gradient can be used as a basic frame either in linear or radial

fig. Offset and linear gradient

appliedfig. Expanded stroke with a radial gradient

fig. Two paths, outer path with a gradient

fig. Brush stroke, expanded and radial

gradient applied

fig. Offset path, punk and bloat, linear gradient

applied and a basic drop shadow added


22/40

Colorization of pattern

Fill a path with the pattern, expand, pathfinder->trim, ungroup to remove the pattern back-

ground defining box, delete defining box, select all the 'elements' of the pattern and apply a

fill color or gradient color or stroke or an effect

Apply a gradient to the path elements, use the gradient tool to manipulate the direction etc of

the gradient

Another approach, simply select the pattern in the palette, drag from the palette to the docu-

ment, and expand, ungroup, select items and re-color etc as required, and with the defining

box, drag to the swatches palette to re-save as a pattern

Or use an overlay of another path with color and set the blending mode (though this depends

on the pattern)

fig. Original pattern

fig. Added color via appearance

palette using an add fill and

blending mode of overlay

fig. Pattern expanded and trimmed via

pathfinder and parts then ungrouped

and re-colored


23/40

Transparency of patterns

The patterns can be overlaid, they are just paths with gaps, other paths can be

arranged beneath or above the patterns. The pattern path can also have an opacity of

less than 100%. Some patterns, especially those supplied in the theme packs, have

transparency and can be overlaid over a color shape and other designs and gradient

background etc.

fig. Polka dot patterns with inbuilt transparency

fig. Pattern with opacity set to 50%

fig. Faded pattern with

opacity at 30%

fig. Repeated paths with

30% overlaid to create

a blurry painted effect


24/40

Patterns as a graphic styles

Select a path with a pattern and then go to the graphic styles palette and save the pattern as a

new style.

Using the appearance palette, multiple pattern fills can be added the same path with different

scaling, rotation, etc

This can be saved as a style as well.

Color can also be added to the appearance (again, depending on the pattern)

Fairly complex pattern graphic styles can be created. These can be used in any future projects.

Additional effects can be added such as 3D / bevel etc


fig. As a style, the pattern has been transformed

/ scaled by 400% and then a live effect of

extrude applied


25/40

Patterns as symbols

Add a pattern to a path, scale etc, expand path / pattern, trim, remove defining box, fill

with color if required, drag the expanded pattern to the symbols palette.

Use the symbol in symbols sprayer etc

The symbols can also be used in 3D live effects. Select a path, go to the effects menu, 3D,

use the bevel tool and map art option, select the pattern based symbol.

fig. Single pattern (from the graphicxtras.com

polka dots swatches set saved to the symbols palette

fig. The pattern swatch applied as a symbol

via the symbol sprayer tool


26/40

Gradient stops

A gradient is made up of multiple gradient stops (either RGB

CMYK ..) These can be moved or removed or added to via the

gradient palette, subtly changing a gradient

Changing a gradient does not lose or modify the original gradi-

ent stored in the gradients palette file (unless you edit the

original file)

The gradient stop color can also be changed via the color

palette

The midpoint of the gradient stops can be changed via the top

row of the gradient palette, creating a blurry or really sharp

setting (low or high settings for sharp)

Modifying the gradient does not modify the swatch either, you

will have to create a new swatch and then save the swatch fileto permanently save any changes to the gradient (though the

path stores the gradient changes)

fig. Original gradient swatch

fig. One of the gradient

stops changed (yellow one)

fig. Some of the gradient

stops are dragged (removed)

from the gradient bar

fig. Opacity of a couple of

the stops has been changed

fig. Midpoints changed,

set to low value to create

sharp gradient

fig. Additional gradient

stops added

fig. Same stops, just squeezed

together


27/40

Length / origin of Gradi-

ent - Radial

The gradient length and origin can be

modified via the gradient tool. Use

the tool to create close lines / stops

or wider lines, or position in the top

left or the middle etc of the path

1) Select path

2) Goto swatches palette

3) Select a radial gradient (or set the

gradient type to radial via the gradi-

ent palette)

4) Go to the gradient tool

5) Modify length etc using the gradi-

ent tool fig. Original gradient swatch

fig. Change of original by shifting

gradient bar / sliderfig. Length increased

fig. Gradient length decreasedfig. Aspect ratio changed


28/40

Re-color pattern

The patterns can be re-colored via the recolor

artwork palette also

1) Select path with pattern swatch

2) Click recolor artwork

3) Modify color (generates new swatch)

fig. Original swatch

fig. Recolored swatch (generates

new swatch)


new swatch)


new swatch)


new swatch)


29/40

Recolor gradient

The gradient swatch can be re-colored via the recolor artwork

command. The individual stop colors can be changed

1) Select path with gradient swatch applied

2) Click recolor artwork icon (top bar)

3) Apply color changes

4) OK.


fig. Recolored artwork


Saturation randomized



using medieval


30/40

Opacity mask

The patterns can be used as an opacity mask.

1) Select path

2) Transaprency palette

3) Make Opacity Mask (menu)

4) Select mask area

5) Draw path with selected pattern6) Exit out of mask mode

fig. Pattern used as an opacity mask with the original pattern

behind as well as plain blue background path


31/40

Export to other applications

The patterns and gradient filled paths can be exported to

other applications, simply select the path with the fill and

then copy to the pasteboard and paste into the other applica-

tion. Apply effects etc as required

fig. Patterns from pack 5 from graphicxtras.com


32/40

Scribble applied to pattern

1) Select path with pattern

2) Effects

3) Stylize

4) Scribble

5) Set as required


fig. Child like scibble applied

fig. Swash scribble

fig. Pattern expanded via

object > expand and then

trimmed via pathfinder and

then the effect > stylize >

scribble swash applied


33/40

Additional examples of the swatches

The examples of the gradients and patterns on the next few

pages are from the Illustrator swatches packs from

graphicxtras.com. The swatches packs are for commercial and

personal use. Many different designs included

fig. Polka dots pack 9 from graphicxtras.com

fig. Polka dots pack

fig. Gradient swatch (pack 7)


34/40

fig. Gradient double fill (using gradients from pack 7)


35/40

fig. Pack 2 gradient

fig. Pack 1 gradient

fig. Star with pack 1 gradient


36/40

fig. Selection of gradients from pack 1

Linear designs but can be quickly set to radial

Length changed, angle changed etc


37/40

fig. Pack 3 gradient with aspect ratio of 50% applied


38/40

fig. Pack 10 X patterns


39/40fig. Arrow patterns (pack 11 from graphicxtras.com)


40/40

Swatches Manual

Documents

Transcript of Swatches Manual